Jake Gleeson leads MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers in visit to Supporters’ Shield winners New York Red Bulls

There has been one constant in Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson’s career: he steps up when needed. And that opportunity has come on the smallest and biggest of stages. Gleeson began playing soccer by chance, instead focusing on the more popular sports of rugby and cricket in his native New Zealand. After replacing an injured goalkeeper on his friend’s local squad, Gleeson excelled at the position, eventually earning a spot on the New Zealand Under-17 World Cup team. Following a professional path to the Timbers, Gleeson was again called upon in last year’s MLS Cup run, posting a crucial shutout of rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Western Conference semifinals. This season, Gleeson has excelled as the No. 1 goalkeeper filling in for the injured Adam Kwarasey, as he ranks fifth in the league with five saves and has the Timbers clicking at the right time with a current six-game unbeaten streak.

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Portland will need Gleeson to perform on a big stage once again as the defending MLS Cup champion Timbers travel east to take on defending Supporters’ Shield winners New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, July 10 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes). Compared to the clubs’ positions after 18 games in 2015, Portland is a mere four points off pace (6-6-6, 24 points, West #7), while the Red Bulls are three points off its Supporters’ Shield stride from a season ago (7-9-2, 23 points, East #4). The Red Bulls enter Saturday riding a five-game home winning streak and are led by midfielder Sacha Kljestan, whose 10 assists this season rank first, and forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, who is tied for third in goals scored with nine. Portland counters with its own deadly duo in forward Fanendo Adi, tied with Wright-Phillips on nine goals, and midfielder Diego Valeri, who ranks in the top 10 in the league in both goals (seven) and assists (five).
 
2015 Records
Games 1-18
New York Red Bulls, 7-1-5, 26 points
Portland Timbers, 8-6-4, 28 points
 
Games 19-34
New York Red Bulls, 11-4-1, 34 points, East #1
Portland Timbers, 7-5-4, 25 points, West #3

By: Editor